Marketplace / Classifieds
Fake listings, rental scams, or overpayment schemes on marketplaces and classifieds.
Below are real, recent examples from our archive. Use the filters to narrow by channel or search within this category.
Tip: If you didn’t expect a refund, invoice, or prize — pause and verify using a trusted website or phone number, not the link you received. See common red flags.
Fake Branded Online Store Scam
A shop that carries a well-known retailer's name and logo, on a web address that belongs to somebody else. It copies the wordmark, the colours and the footer closely enough to pass a glance, and often puts the brand's name into the address in a way that reads correctly at speed. The goods on sale usually do not match the real retailer. Because it is not the retailer's shop, anything given to it goes to whoever set it up.
Fake Vacation Rental Booking Site Scam
A fake vacation-rental website copies a real booking company's branding and listing design. It sends travelers to an unfamiliar address, shows an attractive property, and asks them to enter contact or payment information or pay a deposit.
Venmo/Zelle Payment Hold Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers target people selling items on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist by pretending to be interested buyers. They claim they’ll pay you using Venmo or Zelle and may ask for your email or phone number. After you provide it, you receive a fake message (by text or email) saying your payment is “on hold” or can’t be released unless you receive additional funds or verify your account. The message may mention business accounts, new rules, or KYC requirements, and often lists a phone number to call “support.” The scammer’s goal is to either trick you into sending them money, sharing personal info, or contacting them directly.
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